Glee Fic - Courage to take Control: Part 9 of 10
Media: Fic
Type: Multi-Part
Title: Courage to Take Control: 9 of 10
Rating: R
Word Count: 1,879 (this part)
Genre: General, Drama, Romantic bits
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine established and the focus; but most characters turn up
Spoilers: Nope - although obviously we’re in between s2 and s3. Suspect this might be AUish once s3 starts.
Warning: Nah I don’t reckon.
Disclaimer: I’m borrowing all the characters and universe of Glee. They’re not mine, but I’m grateful to have a little play-time with them J
Summary: Blaine wants to transfer to McKinley for senior year. He just has to convince those people closest to him that it’s a good idea. This chapter, the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
------------------
[Chapter 1] | [Chapter 2] | [Chapter 3] | [Chapter 4] | [Chapter 5] | [Chapter 6] | [Chapter 7] | [Chapter 8]
Chapter 9
Kurt was flitting around the kitchen touching everything, rearranging them into place so they are just so. Burt and Finn were in the other room, watching the last ten minutes of the game while Carole made final preparations in the kitchen. The third time Kurt nearly knocked her too close to the stove she turned around.
“Kurt, honey, you need to calm down,” she said, reaching out and grabbing at him, physically stopping him from moving one step further. “Everything is fine - we’re not hosting the royal family or anything.”
“But you haven’t seen their place!” Kurt exclaimed. “Everything is like a Vogue Living catalogue - all polished surfaces and clear spaces and, and, I mean they have a separate dining room. What are they going to think of this?!”
“They’ll think that we have a lovely home,” Carole said soothingly, “which we do. This was your idea Kurt, just try to relax.”
This had been Kurt’s idea. The PTA meeting was the next night and he had thought, given the Anderson’s ongoing misgivings regarding Blaine’s safety at McKinley, it might help them to meet with Burt and Carole. They had accepted Prinicipal Figgins’ assurances, but both he and Blaine were afraid that they could still change their mind. Dinner at home though? Maybe the suggestion was too much - especially since both sets of parents had then decided it was best to discuss the issues without Kurt or Blaine. This meant that Kurt, Blaine and Finn would not be eating with them; but were instead having a pizza night watching movies. Well Kurt and Blaine were anyway, Finn was going out with Rachel.
“Ok, I’m going to calm down,” Kurt said, moving back from Carole and sitting primly on one of the chairs around the table. “It’s just... we’ve worked so hard to convince them to let Blaine do this, I don’t want anything to derail it.”
“Honey,” Carole sat down opposite Kurt, “from everything you’ve told us the Andersons genuinely have Blaine’s interests at heart - and we have your interests at heart. We’re just going to get to know them a bit more so that we can present a united front at the meeting tomorrow night. It’s a brilliant initiative from the school and something that needs all the support it can get at the meeting.”
Kurt smiled in the knowledge that the school’s ‘initiative’ was in fact his idea; and only coming about because of Kurt and Blaine’s actions. His thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell, and everything inside him tensed a little bit again.
Burt beat him to the door and was shaking hands pleasantly but solemnly with Charles when Kurt popped his head around from behind his father, smiling shyly at an equally nervous looking Blaine who was standing a couple of steps behind his parents, looking smaller than usual.
“Mr Hummel,” Charles was saying, “thank you for your kind invitation tonight.”
“It’s Burt please,” Burt said, “and welcome to our home. Come in.”
“Charles,” Charles said, by way of his own introduction, “and this is my wife, Cecilia. I believe you’re acquainted with our Blaine.”
“Yeah, think I mighta seen him before,” Burt grinned and winked at Blaine as everyone walked into the entry way. “I suspect you also know Kurt. Come into the living room for a moment. Drink? Beer? Wine?”
“White wine thanks,” Charles said, stepping into the room and looking at the now-muted TV showing post-match interviews. Cecilia nodded in agreement to Charles’ requested drink and Kurt led Blaine into the kitchen to collect the drinks.
Finn stood up from the couch abruptly, not sure what he should be doing.
“This is my stepson, Finn,” Burt said, motioning to Finn to extend his hand to Charles.
“Uh, hi,” Finn said distractedly as he shook Charles’ hand. “It’s uh, nice to meet you.”
“Any my wife, Carole,” Burt added as Carole came through from the kitchen, handing him a beer. Kurt and Blaine were behind her carrying the Andersons’ drinks.
“Oh how lovely to meet you,” Cecilia’s face lit up, matching the occasion of exchanging pleasantries. “Your house is so warm and inviting,” she said, picking out the two things that, for all its style, her abode was sometimes lacking.
The seven of them stood a bit aimlessly for a moment until Finn’s phone started singing one of Rachel’s favourite songs.
“Oh, crap,” he said, “I was meant to pick up Rachel like five minutes ago.” He headed towards the door. “Nice meeting you,” he hollered, already halfway out the door.
Silence re-descended over the room until Carole spoke.
“I hope neither of you have any particular allergies?” she asked, “We’re having beef burgundy for dinner.”
“Oh that sounds lovely,” Cecilia said airily. “No allergies to report, and beef burgundy is one of Charles’ favourites, right dear?” She smiled at him and he nodded in agreement.
“Well,” Burt said, after another awkward silence. “Excellent. Shall we move to the table? We have a lot to discuss - it’s a big night tomorrow night.”
The adults filed out of the room, still making awkward small talk, leaving Kurt and Blaine in the living room, standing in front of the TV watching their parents’ backs.
“Why did we want them to meet again?” Blaine said quietly, every fibre of his body on alert for some reason he didn’t quite understand.
“Because we need them to be ok with this - and hopefully they’ll be stronger together?” Kurt said, sounding less and less sure.
They moved to the couch and sat in their favourite position - Kurt lying diagonally on his back against one end, with Blaine cuddled up half next to him, half on top of him, head resting on his chest.
“You hungry?” Blaine asked.
“Not really,” Kurt said, flicking through the channels until he found and settled on MTV, turning the sound up a bit, but not so much that they couldn’t try to eavesdrop on the proceedings in the next room. “You?”
“No,” he eyed the dips, celery and carrots that were laid out on the coffee table. “You prepared these for tonight?”
Kurt shrugged. “I didn’t know if they’d want to sit out here before eating or not, so I made sure there were appetisers ready. There were crackers before too, but then Finn happened”
“Well I’m happy to have tzatziki and carrot sticks for dinner if you are,” Blaine said, reaching over Kurt to grab a carrot, glob the tzatziki over it, and bring it back to his mouth quickly before any of the dip ruined Kurt’s shirt. “We can order pizza later if we’re hungry anyways,” he said in between loud chews.
“Hmm,” Kurt said, just looking at the TV, his ears pricked towards the other room. All he could really here, however, were low sounds of voices without any discernible words coming clear.
“Wonder what they’re talking about,” Blaine said, reading Kurt’s thoughts.
“I’m guessing us,” Kurt craned his neck a bit to see if that improved his hearing in the other room, but it was to no avail, “but that’s not hard to guess.”
“We’re doing the right thing, aren’t we?” Blaine sounded young. “I mean, Puck and the others are right - this won’t really make things easier at McKinley. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to transfer, and I want to be in control of my life, but we’re going to have to fight for the rest of our lives, aren’t we? Starting here. We may have convinced my parents, but for every hill we climb there’s a bigger one hehind it. Am I being silly in wanting to enter the fight - to start climbing the next hill - before I have to?”
“Maybe,” Kurt mused, “but you have to start somewhere. This is about being true to yourself; living your life how you want it, and not according to the privileged private school boy handbook. As for the rest of our lives?” He shrugged. “There will always be good and bad. What will be will be. Things will get better overall; more areas will give gay people equal rights; more people will learn that we’re not sick or wrong somehow,” he stopped for a moment, trying not to sound bitter at the thought. “It has to keep improving, and I believe it will - even if it won’t always seem like it.”
The moment was broken by the sound of Burt and Charles laughing. Kurt and Blaine were silent for a moment, just listening to the sounds of pleasant conversation between the four adults in the other room.
Blaine lifted his head slightly to look at Kurt in wonderment. “You know, I don’t think I ever thought they’d even meet Burt and Carole, let alone share a meal like this; part of me never thought we’d get to a point where they’d be this ok with us… with me.” His voice trailed away.
Kurt was playing with Blaine’s hair, running his fingers loosely through the curls. “They’ve never been against you, or us, I don’t think,” he said quietly. “This past week has shown us that, if nothing else.”
“It’s weird,” Blaine said, “I’d got used to the idea that maybe they just didn’t love me enough, or maybe the disappointment that I wasn’t straight was too much for them to get over. I got used to resenting them, putting on my game face and just acting like they expected - hiding everything else from them.”
“And now?” Kurt asked softly.
“Now…” Blaine hesitated. “Now it’s not really any less weird, but there’s an understanding - that I haven’t let them down, that they accept and love me for who I am. And it’s a relief Kurt, such a relief. Like everything is going to be ok.”
There was more laughing in the other room and Kurt smiled, trailing his hand down Blaine’s cheek as he watched the Bruno Mars clip play quietly on the television. “I think everything is going to be ok,” he said, kissing Blaine’s head softly.
They didn’t say anything else, much, but just lay there, together, commenting on the various video clips playing, until much later in the night when Blaine’s parents emerged with Burt and Carole to join the boys in the living room .
The conversation was easy by then, and Blaine looked happier and more relaxed than he had in a long time, just being with his parents. Burt and Charles shook hands pleasantly when it came time to leave, Cecilia and Carole shared air-kisses, and Blaine and Kurt shared a short but tender kiss, in full view of and without regard for the others in the room; and then the Andersons left to return home.
Kurt stood at the door watching the empty street for some time, only turning to enter the house when he felt Burt’s hand on his shoulder.
“You’ve done good, kid.” Burt said. “You done good.” He patted Kurt’s shoulder before retreating inside and going upstairs.
Kurt closed the door quietly and followed him into the house. His phone buzzed, Blaine:
Love you.
He smiled, writing back:
Not as much as I love you. See you tomorrow.
----------------------------
[Chapter 10 - last one!]
Author’s Note: Next chapter is the last one... *sniff*... so no teaser here...
Type: Multi-Part
Title: Courage to Take Control: 9 of 10
Rating: R
Word Count: 1,879 (this part)
Genre: General, Drama, Romantic bits
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine established and the focus; but most characters turn up
Spoilers: Nope - although obviously we’re in between s2 and s3. Suspect this might be AUish once s3 starts.
Warning: Nah I don’t reckon.
Disclaimer: I’m borrowing all the characters and universe of Glee. They’re not mine, but I’m grateful to have a little play-time with them J
Summary: Blaine wants to transfer to McKinley for senior year. He just has to convince those people closest to him that it’s a good idea. This chapter, the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
------------------
[Chapter 1] | [Chapter 2] | [Chapter 3] | [Chapter 4] | [Chapter 5] | [Chapter 6] | [Chapter 7] | [Chapter 8]
Chapter 9
Kurt was flitting around the kitchen touching everything, rearranging them into place so they are just so. Burt and Finn were in the other room, watching the last ten minutes of the game while Carole made final preparations in the kitchen. The third time Kurt nearly knocked her too close to the stove she turned around.
“Kurt, honey, you need to calm down,” she said, reaching out and grabbing at him, physically stopping him from moving one step further. “Everything is fine - we’re not hosting the royal family or anything.”
“But you haven’t seen their place!” Kurt exclaimed. “Everything is like a Vogue Living catalogue - all polished surfaces and clear spaces and, and, I mean they have a separate dining room. What are they going to think of this?!”
“They’ll think that we have a lovely home,” Carole said soothingly, “which we do. This was your idea Kurt, just try to relax.”
This had been Kurt’s idea. The PTA meeting was the next night and he had thought, given the Anderson’s ongoing misgivings regarding Blaine’s safety at McKinley, it might help them to meet with Burt and Carole. They had accepted Prinicipal Figgins’ assurances, but both he and Blaine were afraid that they could still change their mind. Dinner at home though? Maybe the suggestion was too much - especially since both sets of parents had then decided it was best to discuss the issues without Kurt or Blaine. This meant that Kurt, Blaine and Finn would not be eating with them; but were instead having a pizza night watching movies. Well Kurt and Blaine were anyway, Finn was going out with Rachel.
“Ok, I’m going to calm down,” Kurt said, moving back from Carole and sitting primly on one of the chairs around the table. “It’s just... we’ve worked so hard to convince them to let Blaine do this, I don’t want anything to derail it.”
“Honey,” Carole sat down opposite Kurt, “from everything you’ve told us the Andersons genuinely have Blaine’s interests at heart - and we have your interests at heart. We’re just going to get to know them a bit more so that we can present a united front at the meeting tomorrow night. It’s a brilliant initiative from the school and something that needs all the support it can get at the meeting.”
Kurt smiled in the knowledge that the school’s ‘initiative’ was in fact his idea; and only coming about because of Kurt and Blaine’s actions. His thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell, and everything inside him tensed a little bit again.
Burt beat him to the door and was shaking hands pleasantly but solemnly with Charles when Kurt popped his head around from behind his father, smiling shyly at an equally nervous looking Blaine who was standing a couple of steps behind his parents, looking smaller than usual.
“Mr Hummel,” Charles was saying, “thank you for your kind invitation tonight.”
“It’s Burt please,” Burt said, “and welcome to our home. Come in.”
“Charles,” Charles said, by way of his own introduction, “and this is my wife, Cecilia. I believe you’re acquainted with our Blaine.”
“Yeah, think I mighta seen him before,” Burt grinned and winked at Blaine as everyone walked into the entry way. “I suspect you also know Kurt. Come into the living room for a moment. Drink? Beer? Wine?”
“White wine thanks,” Charles said, stepping into the room and looking at the now-muted TV showing post-match interviews. Cecilia nodded in agreement to Charles’ requested drink and Kurt led Blaine into the kitchen to collect the drinks.
Finn stood up from the couch abruptly, not sure what he should be doing.
“This is my stepson, Finn,” Burt said, motioning to Finn to extend his hand to Charles.
“Uh, hi,” Finn said distractedly as he shook Charles’ hand. “It’s uh, nice to meet you.”
“Any my wife, Carole,” Burt added as Carole came through from the kitchen, handing him a beer. Kurt and Blaine were behind her carrying the Andersons’ drinks.
“Oh how lovely to meet you,” Cecilia’s face lit up, matching the occasion of exchanging pleasantries. “Your house is so warm and inviting,” she said, picking out the two things that, for all its style, her abode was sometimes lacking.
The seven of them stood a bit aimlessly for a moment until Finn’s phone started singing one of Rachel’s favourite songs.
“Oh, crap,” he said, “I was meant to pick up Rachel like five minutes ago.” He headed towards the door. “Nice meeting you,” he hollered, already halfway out the door.
Silence re-descended over the room until Carole spoke.
“I hope neither of you have any particular allergies?” she asked, “We’re having beef burgundy for dinner.”
“Oh that sounds lovely,” Cecilia said airily. “No allergies to report, and beef burgundy is one of Charles’ favourites, right dear?” She smiled at him and he nodded in agreement.
“Well,” Burt said, after another awkward silence. “Excellent. Shall we move to the table? We have a lot to discuss - it’s a big night tomorrow night.”
The adults filed out of the room, still making awkward small talk, leaving Kurt and Blaine in the living room, standing in front of the TV watching their parents’ backs.
“Why did we want them to meet again?” Blaine said quietly, every fibre of his body on alert for some reason he didn’t quite understand.
“Because we need them to be ok with this - and hopefully they’ll be stronger together?” Kurt said, sounding less and less sure.
They moved to the couch and sat in their favourite position - Kurt lying diagonally on his back against one end, with Blaine cuddled up half next to him, half on top of him, head resting on his chest.
“You hungry?” Blaine asked.
“Not really,” Kurt said, flicking through the channels until he found and settled on MTV, turning the sound up a bit, but not so much that they couldn’t try to eavesdrop on the proceedings in the next room. “You?”
“No,” he eyed the dips, celery and carrots that were laid out on the coffee table. “You prepared these for tonight?”
Kurt shrugged. “I didn’t know if they’d want to sit out here before eating or not, so I made sure there were appetisers ready. There were crackers before too, but then Finn happened”
“Well I’m happy to have tzatziki and carrot sticks for dinner if you are,” Blaine said, reaching over Kurt to grab a carrot, glob the tzatziki over it, and bring it back to his mouth quickly before any of the dip ruined Kurt’s shirt. “We can order pizza later if we’re hungry anyways,” he said in between loud chews.
“Hmm,” Kurt said, just looking at the TV, his ears pricked towards the other room. All he could really here, however, were low sounds of voices without any discernible words coming clear.
“Wonder what they’re talking about,” Blaine said, reading Kurt’s thoughts.
“I’m guessing us,” Kurt craned his neck a bit to see if that improved his hearing in the other room, but it was to no avail, “but that’s not hard to guess.”
“We’re doing the right thing, aren’t we?” Blaine sounded young. “I mean, Puck and the others are right - this won’t really make things easier at McKinley. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to transfer, and I want to be in control of my life, but we’re going to have to fight for the rest of our lives, aren’t we? Starting here. We may have convinced my parents, but for every hill we climb there’s a bigger one hehind it. Am I being silly in wanting to enter the fight - to start climbing the next hill - before I have to?”
“Maybe,” Kurt mused, “but you have to start somewhere. This is about being true to yourself; living your life how you want it, and not according to the privileged private school boy handbook. As for the rest of our lives?” He shrugged. “There will always be good and bad. What will be will be. Things will get better overall; more areas will give gay people equal rights; more people will learn that we’re not sick or wrong somehow,” he stopped for a moment, trying not to sound bitter at the thought. “It has to keep improving, and I believe it will - even if it won’t always seem like it.”
The moment was broken by the sound of Burt and Charles laughing. Kurt and Blaine were silent for a moment, just listening to the sounds of pleasant conversation between the four adults in the other room.
Blaine lifted his head slightly to look at Kurt in wonderment. “You know, I don’t think I ever thought they’d even meet Burt and Carole, let alone share a meal like this; part of me never thought we’d get to a point where they’d be this ok with us… with me.” His voice trailed away.
Kurt was playing with Blaine’s hair, running his fingers loosely through the curls. “They’ve never been against you, or us, I don’t think,” he said quietly. “This past week has shown us that, if nothing else.”
“It’s weird,” Blaine said, “I’d got used to the idea that maybe they just didn’t love me enough, or maybe the disappointment that I wasn’t straight was too much for them to get over. I got used to resenting them, putting on my game face and just acting like they expected - hiding everything else from them.”
“And now?” Kurt asked softly.
“Now…” Blaine hesitated. “Now it’s not really any less weird, but there’s an understanding - that I haven’t let them down, that they accept and love me for who I am. And it’s a relief Kurt, such a relief. Like everything is going to be ok.”
There was more laughing in the other room and Kurt smiled, trailing his hand down Blaine’s cheek as he watched the Bruno Mars clip play quietly on the television. “I think everything is going to be ok,” he said, kissing Blaine’s head softly.
They didn’t say anything else, much, but just lay there, together, commenting on the various video clips playing, until much later in the night when Blaine’s parents emerged with Burt and Carole to join the boys in the living room .
The conversation was easy by then, and Blaine looked happier and more relaxed than he had in a long time, just being with his parents. Burt and Charles shook hands pleasantly when it came time to leave, Cecilia and Carole shared air-kisses, and Blaine and Kurt shared a short but tender kiss, in full view of and without regard for the others in the room; and then the Andersons left to return home.
Kurt stood at the door watching the empty street for some time, only turning to enter the house when he felt Burt’s hand on his shoulder.
“You’ve done good, kid.” Burt said. “You done good.” He patted Kurt’s shoulder before retreating inside and going upstairs.
Kurt closed the door quietly and followed him into the house. His phone buzzed, Blaine:
Love you.
He smiled, writing back:
Not as much as I love you. See you tomorrow.
----------------------------
[Chapter 10 - last one!]
Author’s Note: Next chapter is the last one... *sniff*... so no teaser here...